Teat-cup.



SA B HARNER.

TEAT CUP.

APPLICATION man Nov. 1o. 191e. 1,256,792. Patented Feb.19,1918.

/fv N/l Samuel, @www L #E .i A 1'/ 1, ff; i

UNTED STATES PATENT FFGE.

SAMUEL IB. HRNER, OF NEAR XENIA, OHIO.

{FEAT-CUP.

Application led November 10, 1916.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. HARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing near Xenia, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Teat-Cups, of which thefollowing is a specication, reference being had therein to theaccompanying; drawing.

This invention relates to teat cups for milking machines, and the objectof the invention is to provide a teat cup in which the pressure on theteat will be distributed over substantially thev entire si'lrfacethereof, and in which the suction wi ll not draw the blood into the endofthe teat or cause it to be pinched.

To this end it is a further object of the invention to provide a teatcup having a flexible inner casing to receive the teat and to which thepressure is applied, and to provide means for spacing this flexiblecasing away from the outer wall or casing of the cup, and to hold thecasing in its extended condition when the cup is removed from the teat.l

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a teat cupembodying my invention;

F ig. 2 is a perspective view of the same with the outer casing partlybroken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line -x of Fig. 1 and looking inthe direction of the arrows; and Fig. 4 is a detail View of a modifiedform of inner casing.

1n these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave shown the same as comprising an outer casing 1, preferably ofmetal, and which may be of any suitable shape and construction. As hereshown the outer casing comprises a substantially cylindrical bodv havingits lower portion tapered downwardly and merging into a nipple 2 adaptedto receive a flexible conduit by means of which the teat cup isconnected with the suction apparatus and the milk pail. At its upper endthis outer casing is provided with a shoulder 3 above which extends ascrew-threaded flange 4 adapted to receive a clamping collar 5.Preferably the flange is formed separately from the body of the casingand is connected thereto by means of an annular shoulder 6 cooperatingwith a similar shoulder 7 at the upper end of the casing, after themanner of the ordinary' pipe coupling.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Serial N o. 130,514.

As shown the collar is flared outwardly to engage the udder where thelatter merges into the teat. Mounted within the outer casing is acompressible inner casing 8, which is preferably tapered downwardly andis provided at its lower end with an opening. This compressible casingis adapted to receive the teat and has at its upper end an inwardlyextending flange, or apertured diaphragm, 9 to engage the teat, and hasa ange 10 extending outwardly between the shoulder 3 and the clampingcollar 5. The outer wall of the inner casing is spaced away from theinner wall of the outer casing to form an air space which communicateswith the opening in the outer Casing leading to the nipple 2. The innercasing may be constructed in different ways and may be secured to theouter casing in any suitable manner. In that form of the device hereshown the inner casing is formed of a flexible material, such asV softrubber, and has formed integral therewith at its upper end an outwardlyextending annular flange 10 adapted to be clamped between the shoulder 3and the clamping collar 5, thereby causing the inner casing to besuspended within the outer casing with its lower end spaced away fromthe opening in the outer casing. In this construction the inwardlyextending fiange, or apertured diaphragm, is also formed integral withthe body of the casing.

Suitable means are provided for spacing the inner casing from the wallof the outer casing to form an air space between the two casings, andmeans also are provided for holding the inner casing in its extendedposition when the teat cup is being removed from the teat, thuspreventing the flexible inner casing from adhering to the teat and beingturned wrong side out when the teat is removed. Preferably the twofunctions are performed by a single device, and in that form of theinvention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have utilizeda supportingstructure, or cage, for the inner casing. s here shown this cagecomprises two rings, 11 and 12, of different diameters and connected oneto the other by rods 13, and the cage is so arranged as to maintain thedesired space between the walls of the two casings. The rings 11 and 12may be of any suitable character, but as here shown they are both flatand the upper ring 11 is shown parallel with the inner casing, but itmay, if desired, extend beneath the clamping collar 5. In order that thesupporting structure, or cage, may also serve to retain the inner casingin its extended position, the latter is provided at its lower end withan outwardly extending flange ll against which bears the lower ring l2of the cage. The cage is of such a length that the upper and lower ringswilll fit between the two flanges and thus hold the casing in itsextended position. Becauseof the flexible character of the casing anditsfiaiiges it will be apparent that in applying the cage t0 the casingthel lower flange lcan be compressed 'or folded in such a manner as toenable it to be passed through the lower ring of the cage. It will alsobe apparent that the construction is such that the casing and the cageare both suspended from the top of the outer casing by means of theupper flange 10, without extending the upper ring ll of the cage beneaththe clamping collar. In order to maintain the lower end of the casing inits spaced relation to the outer casing without interrupting thecommunication between the airspace and the conduit, which leads from thelower end of the outer casing, openings are formed through the ring ofthe cage, or through both the ring and the flange. Preferably, howeverthe ring is made of a greater width than the flange so that it willextend beyond the outer edge thereof, and this outer portion of the ringis provided with notches, or openings l5, which permit of a freecirculation of the air.

As has been stated various means may be employed for spacing thel innercasing from the outer casing and holding the former in its extendedcondition, and in Fig. 4 I have shown the inner casing as havinglongitudinal Aribs 16 formed integral therewith and serving both asspacing members and to hold the inner casing extended. Otherwise theconstruction of the inner 'casing is substantially similar to that ofthe casing 8, except that it isnot provided with a flange at its lowerend.

In the operation of' the device the teat cup is applied to the teat inthe usual manner and the suction therein will act on all portions ofvthe outer surface of' the inner casing 8. The pressure being equallydistributed throughout tlie teat there is little or no tendency to pinchthe same, or to draw blood into the lower end thereof'. The teat may'extend clear to the lower end of the inner 'casing and, if it does,this opening will be closed by the teat, the opening in the latterregistering with the opening in the casing. yIf the teat is shorter thanthe inner casing it will nevertheless fit within the samel in such amanner that the air will not act directly upon the teat, except at the Ypoint thereof. Y i

While I have shown anddescribed one einbodimen't of my invention I wishit lto be unl. In a teat cup, an outer casing having an l opening toconnect itrwith an air conduit, an

inner lcasing of flexible material supported within said outer casing,rings encircling said inner casing vnear theupper and lower endsthereof, and members connected with said rings -a'n'd extendinglengthwise of said inner casing, said members being spaced apart toexpose relatively large portions of the inner casing to 'the action ofthe air in said outer casing.

2. In a teat cup, an outer casing having a cylindrical portion andhaving an opening at one end thereof to connect the same with an airconduit, an inner casing of fiexible material supported within saidcylindrical portion of said outer casing and tapered toward the openingtherein, rings of different diameters encircling said inner casing nearthe upper and lower ends thereof, and inembers connected with saidrings, extending lengthwise thereof and spaced apart to expose.relatively large portions of said 'fiexible inner casing to the actionof the air in said outer casing.

3. ln a teat cup, an outer casing having an opening to connect it withan air conduit, an inner casing of flexible material supported in saidouter casing, and a cage interouter casing to space the inner casingfrom said outer casing and comprising a lpair of rings encircling saidinner casing, spaced apart and connected one to the other by rodsextending lengthwise of Vsaidinner casing.

LA teat cup comprising an outer casingl having an opening to connect thesame with an air conduit, an inner casing of flexible material, andmeans carried by said inner casing to space thev same from Vsaid Outercasing and to hold it in its extended position, said means being soarranged as to expose 'relatively large vcircui'nfere'nv'iial portionsof said flexible inner casing -to the action of the air in said outercasino'.

5. A teat cup comprising an o'ute'r casing' having an opening to connectthe same with a conduit, an inner casing 'of flexible material, and adevice carried by said inner casing to hold the same in its extendedpo`sition. Y

6. A teat cup comprising an outer casing tion.

7. A teat cup comprising an "outer casing 10e posed between said innercasing and saidisb having an opening having an opening to connect thesame with a conduit, an inner casing of flexible material having flangesat its upper and lower ends, and a device mounted on said inner casingbetween said flanges to space the same away from the outer casing and tohold it in its extended position.

8. A teat cup comprising an outer casing having an opening to connectthe same with a conduit, an inner casing of flexible material, and aspacing device interposed between said inner casing and said outercasing, said device having means at its lower end to engage said outercasing and said inner casing and hold the latter against .lateraldisplacement.

9. A teat cup comprising an outer casing having an opening to connectthe same with a conduit, an inner casing of flexible material having aprojection at its lower end, and a spacing device mounted on said innercasing and engaging said projection to hold said inner casing in itsextended position.

10. A teat cup comprising an outer casing having an opening to connectthe same with a conduit, an inner casing of flexible material havingflanges at its upper and lower ends, a spacing device carried by saidinner casing and comprising rings extending about the same adjacent tothe respective flanges and rods connecting said rings one with theother.

11. Ateat cup, comprising an outer casing at its lower end, an innercasing of flexible material having a flange at its lower end, and aspacing device comprising a ring extended about the lower part of saidinner casing, having its outer edge projecting beyond said flange andhaving said outer edge provided with openings.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each. by addressingthe 12. A teat cup comprising an outer casing having an opening at itslower end, an inner casing of flexible material having laterallyextending flanges at its opposite ends, a spacing device comprisingrings extending about said inner casing, and connecting members toconnect said rings one to the other, the upper ring being of a widthless than the width of the upper flange of said inner casing and thelower ring being of a width greater than the lower flange of said innercasing and having openings therein, said rings being arranged to engagethe respective flanges, whereby said device is carried by said innercasing and serves to retain the same in its proper position.

13. A teat cup comprising an outer casing having an opening at its lowerend and a shoulder at its upper end, and also having a screw-threadedflange extending beyon said shoulder, an inner casing of' flexiblematerial having a flange extending inwardly to engage the teat and alsohaving a flange extending outwardly to engage the shoulder on said outercasing, a collar adapted to be screw-threaded into the threaded flangeof said outer casing to clamp said flange against said shoulder, saidinner casing also having an outwardly extending flange at its loweredge, a spacing device arranged about the exterior of said inner casingand comprising rings adapted to engage the respective flanges on saidinner casing, and members to connect said rings one to the other, thelower ring extending laterally beyond the adjacent flange of said innercasing.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature hereto.

SAMUEL B. HARNER.

Commissioner o1 Eatents,

Washington, D. C.

d GG

